CONTROLS Synonyms: 196 Similar and Opposite Words

controls 1 of 2

noun

plural of control

as in controllers

a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system the controls for the player are well marked

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as in hands

the ability to direct the course of something after the tail fell off, the plane went out of the pilot's control firefighters keeping control of the blaze

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in operations

the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something control of manufacturing operations was given to a new manager with fresh ideas

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as in powers

the right or means to command or control others teachers are responsible for the students under their control

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controls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of control

as in regulates

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) you must learn to control your temper

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as in contains

to gain emotional or mental control of he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks

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as in rules

to exercise authority or power over circumstances often control the choices we make in life

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as in operates

to look after and make decisions about during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of controls

Noun

Their achievement followed years of experimentation with gliders, propellers, and flight controls. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 Russia imposed temporary export controls on helium in April to protect its domestic supply. — Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026 There are full-size Backspace, Delete, and arrow keys, in addition to a number pad and a separate row of volume controls. — Marshall Honorof, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 Volkswagen has made welcome progress by restoring physical steering-wheel controls and adding a center-console dial that handles functions like volume and drive modes. — New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026 Security was also heightened in Rome, where authorities locked down luxury shopping streets and stepped up controls around the Circus Maximus and Piazza del Popolo. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 China is considering export controls that could check the global spread of its AI models and chips, as Beijing increases oversight of its burgeoning tech sector. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 18 Oct. 2026 Under State Department policy, the country is subject to an arms embargo and export controls on purchases for the police. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 Depending on your Galaxy model and Gallery version, the exact location of the tagging controls may vary. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Verb

Six in 10 families can’t afford the basic cost of living in the battleground districts that will determine which party controls the House, a Washington Post analysis has found. — Amy L. Wong, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026 Although Chen Mechan is accused of firing on the Salvadoran’s vehicles, sources said its heavily armed men received backup from Joseph’s 400 Mawozo, which controls the neighboring territory. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026 In societies where the state controls schools, businesses, property, and speech, even small acts of refusal matter. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 Leaders, therefore, need clarity about who owns the technology and data, who controls access, who monitors risk and who has authority to make consequential decisions. — Chandini Sheeba, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 In her latest book, Harvard historian Jill Lepore argues that Big Tech now controls the United States—and, by extension, the entire planet. — Nina Verdelli, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026 Three Houthi officials said the rebel group controls roughly 80% of the countryside surrounding Taiz and several key neighborhoods inside the city. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 But the remaining controls are customizable, with options to adjust the left and right earbud controls independently. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 Billboard first reported that Authentic Brands Group, the licensing group that controls the King’s music and likeness, filed its lawsuit Friday, alleges that Anthropic — the AI giant behind Claude — infringed on the rights of 274 of Presley’s songs. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for controls

Noun

Spain’s rail traffic controllers’ union, SCF, is also urging the government to invest more in the railway safety system and accelerate its replacement with more modern technology.

— Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Rather than approving only complete drones, the Blue UAS Framework also vets individual components like flight controllers, radios, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, cameras and software.

— Yoav Amitai, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of controllers

Noun

The king crab legs are barely seasoned but expertly grilled and dripping with salty sweetness, the kind that’s hard to wash off your hands.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
To such the State renders comparatively small service, and a slight tax is wont to appear exorbitant, particularly if they are obliged to earn it by special labor with their hands.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of hands

Noun

The demonstrations will give regulators and transportation officials an opportunity to assess how electric aircraft could fit into existing airport operations and future regional transport networks.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree denied carrying out any operations targeting the areas.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of operations

Noun

Seabright found that the revision made no meaningful difference because those powers could not have been delegated to Essayli in the first place.

— Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
By leading Philip into believing Arbella was marrying the son of his ally, the Duke of Parma, Protestant England could drive a wedge between two Continental Catholic powers.

— Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of powers

Verb

Instead of planting for curb appeal alone, homeowners are layering in rustling grasses, fragrant herbs, water features and wildlife habitats so the space actively regulates mood and stress.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Utah has been on the front lines of a battle between states and the federal government over who regulates the markets.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of regulates

Verb

This floor also contains a guest bedroom and bathroom, staff quarters, laundry and a security room.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
This spice contains plant compounds called gingerols and shogaols, which help lower the level of inflammatory proteins in the body and block inflammation from occurring.

— Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of contains

Verb

Brown previously served as chairman, but caucus rules state that seniority resets if a senator leaves and then is reelected.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
Today, the half-boot Oxford rules supreme, but Derbies and Brogues are also quite popular with both men and women.

— Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of rules

Verb

The company says its sodium-ion platform operates with passive cooling, eliminating the need for those systems.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Technically not in Lofoten, but well worth extending your trip for, Kvitnes Gard is a historic estate in Hadsel, Vesterålen, that operates as a 15-room farm hotel.

— Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026